Wandscheer
snow loading device



May 9, 1967 WANDSCHEER 3,318,028

SNOW LOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [VE/PT M/VDSCHEER INVENTOR.

BY Zia firm Z:

E. WANDSCH'EER May 9, 1967 snow LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, -1964 fig 2 INVENTOR.

BY if, ta.

1967 v E. WANDSCHEER 3,318,028

SNOW LOADI NG DEVI CE Filed Aug. 10, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 [VEAT MND5CHR INVENTOR.

BY Z; .6742:

M5 Arrr E. WANDSCHEER -May 9, 1967 SNOW LOADING DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet VVE/1/ 70R v [1/55 7 h m/ajmsze United States Patent 3,318,028 SNOW LOADING DEVICE Evert Wandscheer, Sioux Center, Iowa 51250 Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,524 19 Claims. (Cl. 37-43) This invention pertains to snow loading devices and more particularly to a device adapted to load snow from a windrow on a street or road into a truck or the like for removal from the street. The device might also be usable in some limited ways as a snowplow.

The common method of removing snow for city streets includes the piling of the snow from the street into one or more windrows of snow and then loading the snow from the windrows into trucks to be hauled away and dumped. The usual machine for loading the snow into the trucks was a front end loader mounted either on the track type tractor or on some rubber tire motor driven tractor. These devices are simply a shovel driven by power and elevated by power to dump loose snow into a truck. They therefore are entermittent loaders, requiring that the shovel be inserted into the snow pile, loosened, elevated, turned and dumped; and then turned back into position to take another shovelful.

7 By my device I provide a machine capable of continuous loading and therefore quicker loading. Furthermore, I load compacted snow instead of loose snow so that each truck can within its volume capacity carry loads having larger initial volume in the non-compacted state and therefore more nearly up to the weight capacity of the truck. This results is more eflicient use of trucks and also of dumping area since the compacted snow occupies considerably less space than is required for loose snow.

All of the above advantages are gained by a device adapted for use with a commercial type tractor or a common farm-type tractor and without requiring any unusual power supplying devices. Therefore it is apparent that the use of my device will be beneficial to many smaller towns as well as large cities.

A more complete understanding of my invention in its embodiment may be had from a study of the following specification and the figures in which:

'FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my packed snow loader mounted on the tractor,

FIG. 2 is a rear view of my packed snow loader removed from the tractor and showing the chain drive, and spring-loaded rotor bracket,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket which holds the laterially movable drum and removed from my machine,

FIG. 4 is a front view of my packed snow loader with a part broken away to show the operation.

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view through a cleated drum along the plane of the line AA of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the snow gathering cleats,

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view through the drums showing the extremes of movement of the laterally moving drums,

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of one type of drum with a portion broken away to show interior construction, and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing an alternate type of drum construction.

Briefly my invention comprises a loader attachment for mounting on a common tractor which loader is adapted to pick up snow from a windrow or from a flat surface, compact it into blocks between two rotating drums and throw it through a spout or chute into a truck driven alongside the tractor.

More specifically, and referring to the figures, my device is adapted to be mounted on a tractor 10 which may 3,318,023 Patented May 9, 1967 be of the industrial type, but may also be similar to a farm tractor. This is readily accomplished by using the hydraulically operated loader arms 11 and suitable stabilizing braces 12 to which the frame 13 may be attached by means of bolts 14 or the like extending through mounting ears 15. The "braces 12 may be provided with a plurality of holes 16 by which the rearward tilt of the machine relative to the loader arms may be determined.

Power for the operation of the loader is provided from the power take off of the tractor by means well known in the art. The drive shaft 18 extending from the power take off is coup-led to the pinion shaft 19 of my machine through a universal joint 20. The shaft 18 may be of a common telescoping type to allow for slight el-ongations or shortenings as the device is tilted more or less or is raised or lowered slightly.

The principal operating members of my device are two drums rotating in opposite directions adapted to pick up the snow and compress it. The stationary drum 23 is journalled on an axle 24 which is fixed in the frame 13. The movable drum 25 is similarly journalled on an axle 26, but this axle is fixed to a tilting bucket 27 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 13. As can be seen in the figures, the axles are substantially parallel and nearly horizontal although they may be slightly tilted without interfering with the operation of my device.

The bracket 27 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a unitary piece embracing the frame 13 at one end and pivoted thereto on a pin 30. At the other end of the bracket the axle 26 is fixed thereto. Elongated ears 31 extend from the bracket and embrace an upright member 32 of the frame 13. A stop pin 33 extending between the ears 31 serves to limit the tilting movement of the bracket.

Further restriction to such movement is provided by spring loading the bracket in a direction urging the rotor carried by the movable axle 26 towards the rotor carried 'by stationary axle 24. This is accomplished 'by pivotally mounting a rod 34 on the bracket 27. The rod extends through an opening in the upright member 32 and terminates in a threaded end. A compression spring 35 surrounds the rod and is compressed between the upright member 32 of the frame and a spring stop 36 threaded onto the threaded end of the rod 34. Thus movement of the axle end of the bracket to the right in FIG. 2

- will compress the spring 35 and cause an increasingly strong force in the opposite direction as the displace ment from the normal position increases.

The drums which are journalled on the shafts may be constructed in either of two preferred ways. In either case, the outward appearance will be somewhat similar and the action of the different types will be the same. The drum is built around a hub 39 which is journalled on the shaft 24 or 26. The outer rim of the drum is formed of some resilient material and carries a series of cleats. On the front of the drum, regardless of the embodiment, I provide a series of cutting vanes 40 which serve to break up the windrow of snow.

Referring more particularly to the two different types of drums, I prefer to use the built up metal drum best shown in FIG. 8, and also illustrated in the figures showing the full assembly. This drum is built up of metal discs 41 and an outer metal rim 42. Outside of the rim 42 I provide a tire 43 of resilient material such as rubber for reasons to become apparent hereinafter. The cleats 44 are composite of a metal core covered with a flexible covering such as rubber. These cleats may be bolted or otherwise fastened to the rim of the drum.

The alternate form of drum is illustrated in FIG. 9 and is composed of two wheels 46 mounted side by side on the hub 39. Pneumatic tires 47 are mounted on the wheels in close juxtaposition. These tires are formed with cleats 48 of similar shape to the cleats 44, and aligned with those on the adjacent tire so as to provide a continuous cleat across the drum.

The drive mechanism for the drums utilizes the power input to the pinion shaft 19. A sprocket 50 to drive the stationary drum 23 and another sprocket 51 to drive the movable drum 25 are mountedon this shaft. Since the movement of the movable drum in through only a small arc, and since a certain amount of play can be accommodated in a chain drive, it is not essential that the center of movement of the drum 25 be exactly coincident with the center of the sprocket 51. However, it is desirable that these be as near as possible, and that the eccentricity be in a direction directly away from or toward the are of motion described by the center of the axle 26 for the movable drum.

The movable drum 25 includes a sprocket 53 mounted on its hub 39. This sprocket 53 and the drive sprocket 51 are connected by a power transmitting chain 54. This drive is the ordinary drive so that the movable drum rotates in the same direction as the drive sprocket 51.

In order to rotate the stationary drum 23 in the opposing direction, I provide for a chain drive including an idler sprocket 55 rotatably mounted on a bracket 56 supported by a housing more completely described hereinafter. The power chain 57 for this drive engages the top of the drive sprocket 50, runs around the idler 55 and around the stationary drum sprocket 58. Thus it is apparent that this drum 23 will be driven in a direction reversed from that of the drum 25.

Enclosing the drums 23 and and supported by the frame 13 is a housing 60. This housing includes an entrance portion including a top wall 61 which is relatively flat, two side walls 62 tapered somewhat inwardly, and a lower wall 63 which slopes upwardly quite rapidly from a scraper edge 64 toward the lower surfaces of the drums 23 and 25. Behind the entrance portion, the housing is formed with two lobes adapted to enclose the drums. The lobe 66 for the stationary drum 23 may be formed to closely enclose that drum. However, the lobe 67 for the moving drum 25 must be somewhat elongated in order to accommodate the lateral movement possible for that drum. At the front of the lobes 66 and 67 the housing is formed with a frustro-conical portion 68. This portion surrounds the vanes and serves to catch snow cut loose from the windrow. Such loosened snow is thrown back into the lobes of the housing to be picked up by the cleats 44 to be carried around and compressed with other snow between the rotors.

Extending upwardly from between the lobes 66 and 67 is a loading spout 69. This may be fully enclosed, or may have the lower side open for a substantial distance. The spout is curved to one side so as to provide a lateral direction of motion to the snow blocks formed and thrown by my machine.

In operation, I prefer to use my device to load snow which has already been windrowed. The tractor can then be driven toward one end of the windrow with the scraper edge 64 on or nearly on the surface of the road. The sidewalls 62 should enclose the sides of the windrows.

As the tractor advances, the snow is picked up by the lower wall 63 and moved toward the drums 23 and 25. The power take-oif of the tractor has been engaged so that the drums are rotating in a direction towards each other at the bottom of the drums. Therefore, they pick up the snow by means of the cleats 44 on the outer surfaces and the vanes 40 and sweep the snow to the space between the drums. At the same time, the snow is compressed between the outer surfaces of the drums and is formed into snow blocks 70 which are thrown upwardly by the speed of rotation of the drums and out through the chute 69 into a waiting truck alongside. Snow which is higher than the bottom of the drums is cut into 'by vanes 40 and is caught by the cleats 44 or drops to the lower wall 63 so that it also is picked up by the drums.

It will now be apparent that the resilient surface on the drums, and the resilient cleats are very useful in preventing sticking of the compacted snow to the surfaces. Because of the fiexure of the surfaces, the snow after its compaction comes entirely free and the block can be properly thrown by the drums. It may also be desirable in some installations to provide an insulating lining 72 in the spout or chute so as to prevent sticking of the blocks therein.

Proper compaction of the blocks, and avoidance of damage through the picking up of modest sized stones and the like is assured by the use of the spring-loaded laterally movable drum. As the snow comes into the space between the drums at a faster rate, the moving drum will be displaced outwardly. However, this will cause increasing spring pressure, and therefore increase pressure of the one drum toward the other. Thus the thicker blocks will be formed under heavier pressure and be just as well compacted as the thinner ones.

Having thus described my invention in its embodiment I am aware that further and extensive variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A snow loader comprising a housing adapted to be carried by a mobile power source, said housing being formed with an open end, a pair of drums rotatively journalled adjacent each other on substantially parallel axes in said housing, said axes being substantially parallel to the direction of usual motion of said mobile power source, power transmission means between said power source and said drums for rotation of said drums in opposite directions, thereby rotating toward each other at one surface, cleats on the surface of said drums, whereby material entering said open end is picked up by said cleats and compressed between said drums to form blocks.

2. The device of claim 1 in which one of said drums is laterally movable and is biased in the direction toward the other of said drums.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said cleats are resilient and extend axially from the periphery of said drums.

4. The device of claim 3 in which cutting vanes are mounted on the forward face of both drums whereby mounded snow is loosened to be picked up between said drums.

5. For attachment to a mobile power source having a power take off, a snow removal means for removing snow from a street comprising a frame adapted to be attached to said power source, at least two drums rotatably mounted on said frame on parallel, substantially horizontal axes, said axes being also substantially parallel to the direction of usual motion of said power source, drive means connected between said power take-off and both of said drums for rotation of said drums in a direction such that the lower surfaces thereof approach each other, wall means on said frame beneath said drums adapted to guide said snow upward toward said lower surfaces.

6. The device of claim 5 in which one drum is laterally movable relative to said frame, and biasing means engaged between said frame and said one drum whereby said one drum is biased in a direction toward the other drum.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said drums are formed to provide resilient cleats around the periphery thereof to pick up said snow and form blocks therefrom.

8. For attachment to a mobile power source having a power take off, a snow removal means for removing snow from a street comprising a frame adapted to be attached to said power source, at least two drums rotatably mounted on said frame on parallel, substantially horizontal axes, said axes being also substantially parallel to the direction of usual motion of said power source, drive,

means connected between said power take-off and said drums for rotation of said drums in a direction such that the lower surfaces thereof approach each other, housing means on said frame means virtually surrounding said drums but leaving open the lower surface and one end thereof.

The device of claim 8 in which said housing means has -a lower wall shaped to guide said snow from said street up to the lower surface of said drums.

10. The device of claim 8 in which cleats are removably fixed to the outer surface of said drums to pick up the snow and form it into blocks.

11. The device of claim 8 in which one of said drums is rotatably mounted on movable bracket means, said bracket means being movably mounted on said frame whereby said last named drum is movable laterally of said frame, and biasing means engaged between said bracket said frame whereby said last named drum is urged toward its adjacent drum.

12. The device of claim 8 in which a chute means curves outwardly and upwardly from said housing, said chute means being in position to receive compacted snow from between said drums.

13. The device of claim 8 in which said housing is formed with a frusto-conical portion about said drums, vane means on the forward faces of said drums adapted to cut loose said snow and entrap it within said frustoconical portion to guide it onto said drums.

14. For attachment to a tractor or the like having a power take off, a device adapted to remove snow from streets or the like comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on said tractor, a housing mounted on said frame, a stationary axle mounted on said frame, first dr-um means rotatively mounted on said stationary axle, bracket means pivotally mounted on said frame, a movable axle mounted on said bracket means in substantially parallel relationship to said stationary axle, whereby said movable axle is movable laterally of said frame .and towards and away from said stationary axle, spring means engaged between said frame and said bracket whereby said bracket is biased to a normal position in which said movable axle is nearest said stationary axle, second drum means mounted on said movable axle, drive means engageable to said power take off and engaging both of said drum means for rotation of said drum means in opposite directions with the lower surfaces of said drum means approaching each other, said drum means being formed with resilient outer surfaces including resilient cleats thereon, and a housing on said frame partially enclosing said drum means, said housing includin a lower wall 50 formed to guide said snow into said lower surfaces of said drum means, said cleats being adapted to pick up said snow, compact it between said drum means and cut it into blocks.

15. The device of claim 14 in which a chute is formed on said housing in position to receive said blocks from 5 said drum means and to guide them upwardly and laterally of said device.

16. The device of claim 15 in which said chute is provided with an insulating lining mounted therein.

17. The device of claim 14 in which the central axes of said drums extend in the direction of usual movement of said tractor, and cutting vanes .are mounted on the forward end of said drum means whereby mounded snow will be cut loose to fall on said lower wall to also be guided into said drum means.

18. The device of claim 17 in which said vanes are partially enclosed in a frusto-conical portion of said housing whereby snow cut loose by said vanes is guided onto said drum means between said cleats.

19. Snow removal means for attachment to a mobile power unit and adapted to remove snow from a street or the like comprising support means attachable to said power unit, at least two drum means rotatably mounted adjacent each other on said support means, the axes of rotation of said drum means being substantially parallel to the direction of usual motion of said mobile power unit, drive means adapted to be operably connected to said power unit'and in driving engagement with said drum means to rotate said drum means in opposite directions,

References Cited by the Examiner 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,803 l/l900 Shirreffs 37-l0 641,804 l/1900 Shirrefis 37-l0 1,512,345 10/1924 Lorenz 37l1 3,101,510 8/1963 Packham.

OTHER REFERENCES Chem. Werke Brockhues A. G., German application 1,160,964, printed Oct. 6, 1962.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SNOW LOADER COMPRISING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BY A MOBILE POWER SOURCE, SAID HOUSING BEING FORMED WITH AN OPEN END, A PAIR OF DRUMS ROTATIVELY JOURNALLED ADJACENT EACH OTHER ON SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AXES IN SAID HOUSING, SAID AXES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF USUAL MOTION OF SAID MOBILE POWER SOURCE, POWER TRANSMISSION MEANS BETWEEN SAID POWER SOURCE AND SAID DRUMS FOR ROTATION OF SAID DRUMS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, THEREBY ROTATING TOWARD EACH OTHER AT 